Stefan, guide for Your Friend in Reykjavik, embodies a true storyteller who finds joy in strolling through town, engaging with people, and weaving captivating tales. When choosing a fulfilling vocation that allowed him to combine his love for conversation and exploration, tour guiding emerged as the perfect calling.
With an impressive track record of conducting countless city tours, Stefan has consistently worn a warm smile and radiated a hospitable demeanor throughout his journey. He wholeheartedly immerses himself in sharing narratives and engaging with our cherished guests.
Beyond his role as a tour guide, Stefan’s passion extends to art. During his downtime, you can find him nestled in local cafes, sketching people for hours and perhaps even crafting a song or two in the evening. His enthusiasm for culture, mythology, and history shines brightly.
Stefan is Your Friend In Reykjavik.
Let’s Ask Your Friend in Reykjavik a Few Questions!
If you could choose only one thing from Iceland, what would it be? The West Side Swimming Pool (Vesturbæjarlaug).
Iceland’s community swimming pools are a testament to the strong sense of togetherness they foster. These pools offer more than just the opportunity for laps; you’ll often find not one but sometimes two dedicated lap pools. Moreover, the amenities include inviting hot tubs, and it’s not uncommon to have access to steam or cold baths and luxurious jacuzzis. Families with children can look forward to wading pools. Sometimes, pool areas are designed like playgrounds, complete with thrilling waterslides that promise endless fun for the little ones!
Many cannot go one day without visiting the hot tub, where people come together to discuss the day’s biggest news story.
Would you change anything about Iceland if you could? Increase the number of T-shirt days from 5 to 30 a year.
What is your favourite place in Iceland? Many, but Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Reykjadalur are high up on the list.
In Reykjadalur is a popular hot spring which you can bathe in. It is a scenic 45-minute hike from Hveragerði, a charming South Icelandic town renowned for its geothermal activity and thriving greenhouses.
While on the hike, you’ll come across several pools of water, but it’s crucial to heed the posted signs and avoid attempting to bathe in them. Exercise caution during your journey.
Additionally, it’s important to be aware that no changing facilities are on-site. You’ll need to either change discreetly in the open or come prepared with swimwear beneath your clothes.
The Reykjadalur hot spring remains accessible throughout the year, and, best of all, it’s free of charge for visitors to enjoy.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula has often been described as a place where you’ll find everything Iceland has to offer in one place: glaciers, hot springs, bird life, lava fields, basalt columns, and more.
What is your favorite traditional food? Let’s just say Prince Polo
Despite its non-Icelandic origins, this chocolate has been incredibly popular within the country.
This candy brand, introduced by the Olza company in Cieszyn, southern Poland 1955, rapidly gained favor among locals and soon became a prized export item to neighboring nations, maintaining a solid market presence today.
In that same year, Icelanders and Poles established a trade agreement, with the Poles purchasing fish products. To cater to Icelandic tastes, it became essential to identify Polish consumer goods that resonated with the locals. Ásbjörn Ólafsson’s wholesale enterprise successfully secured the distribution rights for Prins Póló (as it is called in Iceland), creatively maneuvering around stringent import regulations for foreign sweets by classifying the product as a biscuit. At its zenith, Icelanders devoured an average of one kilogram of Prince Póló per person annually. However, by 2014, this figure had dwindled to half a kilogram.
In Halldór Laxness’ novel “Under the Glacier,” Prince Póló is humorously portrayed as pumice coated in chocolate. Additionally, an Icelandic musician adopted the alias Prins Póló. During the 1980s, a song titled “Prins Póló” emerged, recounting the tale of a boy who indulged excessively in this delightful chocolate confection.
But what is your favourite national drink? Eintsök beer.
The beer is one of Iceland’s most popular beers in Iceland and possibly the most readily available abroad.
What is the best thing about Reykjavik? The swimming pools, coffee houses and the ice cream shop Ísbúð Vesturbæjar.
But what is best about Iceland? Beautiful nature, safety, fresh air and clean water.
What is your favourite Icelandic music? Ásgeir Trausti (and my music as well 😀 )
What is your favourite restaurant? Messinn.
Messinn is a great restaurant in Reykjavik which specialises in fish. In fact, it is on our list of best seafood restaurants in Reykjavik and the best restaurants in Reykjavik!
What Icelandic food is most often eaten at home? Haddock.
Haddock and cod are the two most eaten fish species in Iceland. Check out our recipes of fishballs, fish stew “plokkfiskur” and breaded fish.
If you are curious to know more about fish in Iceland, we recommend you check out our blog!
What is your favourite candy? 100% chocolate from Guatemala.
